“Thank you, uncle,” she whispered.
He said nothing more, shifting his palm to her forehead. Vi’s eyes fluttered closed for several moments as he gently stroked her hair. In a different world, the touch would be her father’s. But in this world, Jax was the closest thing she had.
“You should rest,” he said, soft enough that he clearly thought she was halfway to sleep. “I will position extra security at your room at all times.”
Vi appreciated the sentiment, even if she didn’t think the elfin’ra would be caught or stopped by any normal means. Her eyes fluttered open.
“Can you please send Andru to me?”
“He’s recovering as well, like you should be.”
“It won’t be long. I’d like to thank him,” she said trying to prop herself up a little more on the pillows so she didn’t actually fall asleep. “He saved my life. I promise I’ll be a good patient the rest of the day. Just ten minutes?”
“Very well.” Jax gave her a tender smile. She should have near-death experiences more often. It clearly softened him. “Never claim I don’t spoil you.”
“Thank you,” Vi called after him.
In a few minutes, Andru arrived. Vi watched as he slipped through the door, moving stiffly.
“Close it behind you,” Vi requested softly.
He did as instructed but continued to hover. His icy blue eyes stared down at her and Vi looked back at him. Neither of them said anything for several long moments.
“I thought you were trying to kill me,” Vi blurted.
“What?” He blinked, startled. “Is that really what you summoned me here to say?”
“No. Well, it was one of the things I wanted to say…” Vi admitted.
“Why did you think I was trying to kill you?” he asked skeptically.
“Because you showed up and suddenly strange things started happening.” A lot of strange things, but none of them could be blamed on Andru, it seemed. “You said you followed me into the city—”
“Because I wanted to protect you.” His eyes darted around the room, shifty.No, they weren’t shifty. She’d only thought they were. He was simply… awkward. “I can see the door to your room from my bedroom. I had been having trouble sleeping with all the forest noises and was up.” It was then that Vi realized she didn’t even know where they had put him up in the fortress. “I saw you going out, alone, looking very much like you were sneaking about. There was someone else following behind you, too, but they were gone when I went to approach them.”
“What did they look like?” Vi asked eagerly.
“I did not get a good look.” He walked slowly over to the chair Ginger had been using. “May I sit?” Andru rubbed his midsection and Vi remembered what Ginger had said. She gave a small nod. “What else did I do that made you think I wanted to kill you?”
“You wanted me to ride the noru with the broken saddle—”
“I thought you were going out because youwantedto ride the noru.”
Vi stared at him, dissecting the words. They sounded truthful to her ears, which meant… “You really are dense.”
“What?”
Vi laughed at his expression, her whole body aching as a result. “That was all a ploy for Ellene and Darrus.”
“Oh.Oh.” She watched as comprehension lit up his face.
“And then everything about my being fit to rule, and maybe my brother should… you haven’t exactly been friendly with me.”
“What? I tried to be.” Andru leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap. He looked at them, speaking more to his fingers than her. “I am not the best at making friends. I think.” His head slowly rose and he stared at her for a long moment. Then said, simply, “I am sorry, your highness.”
“May I speak plainly?” Vi asked thoughtfully.
“I should be asking that of you.”
